Window-cleaning device



April 29 1924. 1,492,281,

G. BAcKl-:Aus

WINDOW CLEANING DEVI CE Filed Dec. 29 1992 '/2 ,/5 55 5/ 25 2/ 27.24 I iI J4 up any' INVENToR. Garn/EB Znc/r/Ad BY f.' f, Q7? Z0 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

stares GOTTLIEB BACKHAUS, OF. NEW YORK, N. Y.

WINDOW-CLEANING DEVICE.

Application led December 29, 1922. ,Serial No. 609,714.

To all whom t 'may concern.' v

Be it known that I, Gorrnrne BAGKHAUS, a citizen of the Republic yofGermany, residing at New York city, in the county of New `York and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWindow-Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to window cleaning devices and more particularlyto a novel and improved mechanism wherein the outside surface of theupper and lower sections of a window may be cleaned from a position onthe inside of the win-dow sash with facility and ease and avoiding thedanger incident to this character of work.

The primary object of my invention is the construction of a manuallyoperable window cleaning device constructed and arranged so that accesscan be had to the outer surface of the windows to be cleaned includingprovision for actuating the cleaning or wiping element from a positionon the inside of the window sash.

A further object of my invention is the construction of an outsidewindow cleaning mechanism including the vertically operable rack onwhich kthe cleaning device or wiper is mounted and provision foractuating the latter from a position on the side of the window sash bysuitable gearing constructed and arranged so as to impart areciprocatory motion to the cleaning or wiping element.

1' accomplish the above objects and others which will be more readilyunderstood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingsshowing a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the application of my invention in connectionwith a conventional type of window sash.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in section showing the arrangementof the gearing and the actuating mechanism for the cleaning or wipingelement.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the gearing housing.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designatesthe window casing and 6, 7, the window sashes, the pane of glass carriedthereby being indicated at 8.

toothed gear 12 mounted on the shaft 10 is adapted to engage a verticalrack .bar 13, having rack teeth 14 thereon, which rack bar extendsthroughy a vertical recess in the outer end 15 of the housing as clearlyshown by Figure 2 of the drawings. The extreme upper endof the rack baris provided with a transverse slot which receives a sleeve 16, saidsleeve supporting a cleaner or wiper carrying bar or rod 17 in adjustedposition by 'the thumb screw 18, the outer end of saidrod or bar 17,supporting the wiper or cleaner 19 which work up and .down over thewindows to be cleaned.

' Secured to `thelfront wall of the hous- .n

ing V9, have provided `a .bushing 20, to which the tube 21 is threadedlyconnected and inwhich the operating mechanism is found. A block 22secured within the tubing 21 ysupports the'spindle 23 of a worm shaft24, the latter extending through the front wall of the housing 9. Theopposite end of the shaft 24 supports and carries a bevelled gear 25which meshes with the gear 26, mounted on the shaft 10, whereby whenmotion is imparted to the shaft 24, the gears 25 and 26 will actuate themeshed tooth gear 12 and the rack bar 13 as is well understood. Theshaft 24 above referred to is provided with a groove 27 an-d on theshaft, I have provided a feed block 28 cooperating with the shaft insuch manner that when the block 28 is actuated, rotation will beimparted to the shaft 24 and consequentlyto the gearing. The block 28 ispreferably provided with a stud which rides in the groove 27 andconnected thereto, I have provided a pair of parallel rods 30, 29, whichare secured yat their opposite ends to the head 31 of an interfitting,sliding plunger 33, on which the handle 34 is supported, whereby thedevice can be actuated manually.

iFrom the above construction, it will be readily seen that as the handle34 is gripped and moved inwardly and outwardly, the rods 29, which carrythe member 28, will cause the latter to move backward and forward, thuscausing rotation of the worm shaft 24, whereupon rotary motion isimparted to the bevelled gears 25, 26 and consequently actuate the rackbar 13 as heretofore explained. 0f course the tube 21 is held in onehand when the handle 34 is actuatedv to steady the device andconsequently permit of the movement of the housing 9 across the windowsill during the cleaningor wiping of the window.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree ofpartioularity, I realize that in practice various alterations thereinmay be made. I therefore Vreserve the right and privilege of changingthe form of the idetails of construction or otherwise altering thearrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims. Y f

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is l. A window cleaner comprisinga support, a vertically operable rack bar slidable through the support,a wiper carried at Yone end of the rack bar, meshed gearing mountedWithin the support and cooperating with the rack bar, a worm shaft andmanually operable means reciprocable on said shaft for operating saidworm shaft to impart reciprocatory motion to the rack bar.

2. A window cleaner comprising ay support, a vertically operable rackbar slidable through a recess in the rear of the support, gearingmounted within the support and meshing with the rack bar, a tubular eX-tension housing on said support and extending at right angles thereto, aworm shaft mounted within the housing, a bevel gear carried by said wormshaft meshing with the first mentioned gearing and manually operablemeans reciprocable on said wormshaft for actuating said shaft to impartreciprocatory motion to the ra'clr bar.

3. fr window cleaner comprising a support, a vertically operable rackbar slidable through a recess in therear ofthe support, a horizontalshaft and a toothed gear mounted on the shaft in meshing relation withthe racl; bar, an exterior housing connected to the support, a wormshaft within the housing, a bevel gear mounted at the inner end of theworm shaft, a gear carried by the horizontal shaft andmeshing with thelast mentioned bevel gear, a feedvnut cooperating with the worm shaft,and manual means for actuating said feed nut to impart reciprocatorymotion to the gearing and the rack bar. n t t In testimony whereof I axmy signature in presence of two witnesses. n

GO'ITLIEB BACKHAUS. f [La] Witnesses: Y

HERMANN NEGREY, JOSEPH THOMBEGK.

